Produced by Rupert Hine, Sides was Anthony's third solo album and was a superb blend of instrumental music and songs. The record saw Anthony supported by an able cast of musicians that included Mike Giles & Mel Collins (King Crimson), John G. Perry (Caravan, Quantum Jump) and John Hackett (a member of his brother Steve's band). Featuring such wonderful compositions as Um & Aargh, Sisters of Remindum, Bleak House, Lucy Will and Nightmare, Sides is a classic album of the late 70s Progressive era. This deluxe edition features a new stereo mix of the album, a newly re-mastered version of the original album stereo mix and a CD of demos, out-takes and extras.

First released in 1967, O Bidú is Jorge Ben's fifth full-length album. It is in many ways a typical album for Ben in the '60s, full of sweet, sincere, and mainly upbeat songs, with the music mixing samba with elements of bossa nova, swing, pop, and soul. Compared to many other works by Ben, the string and horn sections are used very sparsely. The tone of the album is set right from the start with the catchy opening track "Amor de Carnaval," one of the best songs Ben has ever written. "Frases," with its soft groove and neat lyrics, and "Toda Colorida" are two other highlights on this highly enjoyable album, whose only real flaw is its brief playing time (only just over 31 minutes).

Anthony Phillips was one of the original founding members of Genesis featuring Peter Gabriel, Tony Banks, and Michael Rutherford. Following "Trespass", Genesis' second album, Phillips left (purportedly due to stage fright) and was replaced by Steve Hackett. Nothing was heard again from Anthony until 1977, when he favored us with his first solo, "The Geese and the Ghost", although Phillips wasn't the first member of the band to release a solo album (that honor goes to Steve Hackett, by releasing "Voyage of the Acolyte", in 1975). A more commercial audience was courted on "Wise After The Event" and "Sides", to no avail, and Phillips spent much of his time releasing instrumental pieces (both old and new) under the "Private Parts & Pieces" series…

Sides is the fourth solo album from former Genesis guitarist Anthony Phillips. A first listen, Sides might only seem to be an adequate Anthony Phillips effort. Although it boasts two bona fide King Crimson members (Giles and Collins), the first half of the album consists of wry but forgettable numbers like the pop of "Um & Aargh" and the divorce kiss-off of "Holy Deadlock." But on the much better second half of the album, Phillips shows his more orchestral side on the instrumentals "Sisters of Remindum" and "Nightmare," as well as his distinctive arpeggiated guitar style on "Magdalen." And as always, the wonderfully whimsical and punning cover art by Peter Cross is reminiscent one of what the world lost when we all switched to cramped CD covers.

Such are the caprices of time that Grant-Lee Phillips is probably better known in the US for his recurring role on Gilmore Girls than he is for leading one of the ’90s finest exports, Grant Lee Buffalo. TV fame may have brought him a different audience in recent years, but his USP remains pretty much the same: thoughtful, erudite roots-rock that pulls from long-held traditions of folk, country and blues.